Fundraisers planned in memory of Coherd

MILFORD — Rick Coherd was an active member of the Milford community and could often be found at Reformation Lutheran Church or investigating historic buildings such as Sunnybrae Mansion, now ideal locations for benefits in his memory.

He passed away quietly in June from a second battle with colon cancer after originally being diagnosed in the spring of 2013, according to friend and team member with Delmarva Historic Haunts Wendy Robinson.

“It was a long, tough process the first time. At the end of it, he was deemed to be cancer free. But then it came back this past spring. I’m not sure where all it had spread to because he was a very private person with that stuff. He just kept saying I just have to fight it off again,” she said.

In memory of Mr. Coherd and his contributions to the local community through the paranormal team he created in 2011, his team and other friends are planning several upcoming events to raise money for the Colon Cancer Alliance.

Milford resident Jennifer Parnell is organizing the first event to be held on Sat., Aug. 22 beginning at 9 a.m. at Reformation Lutheran Church. She said the fundraising event will include a variety of vendors from direct sales to local artisans and everything in between.

Members of the church will provide lunch for purchase, Delmarva Historic Haunts will set up their van for tours and materials from the Colon Cancer Alliance will be available. She added that the first 50 people will receive free swag bags filled with samples, business cards and other items from vendors present at the event. Admission will be $1 per person and go directly to the Colon Cancer Alliance.

“When I heard that he had cancer, it destroyed me. This is a very strong and vital person and it took him. It wasn’t right. I knew we had to do something,” she recalled. “There’s always a need for research and funding that research. The more we can raise to aide them, the quicker this thing can be cured and doesn’t have to take anybody else.”
Ms. Robinson is also planning a couple of fundraisers through Delmarva Historic Haunts this fall. Staving off colon cancer, a cocktail party and happy hour, will take place on Sat., Sept. 26 at Painted Stave Distilling in Smyrna from 7-10 p.m. She said raffles, appetizers, a cash bar and a DJ will help attendees enjoy the event in a casual setting. Tickets are available at http://delmarvahistorichaunts.com/tickets/ for $25 each.

Costumes for the cure masquerade party will be held on Sat., Nov. 7 from 5-9 p.m. at Sunnybrae Mansion in Milford and will also feature a DJ, dancing, food and raffles. Party goers are encouraged to dress in costume and enjoy a scavenger hunt through the mansion. Tickets for this event are also available online for $30 each.
Proceeds from both events will go to the Colon Cancer Alliance.

“I felt this intense need to do something. So I talked to my team and said I wanted to have fundraisers so other people don’t have to go through this,” Ms. Robinson said.
The group plans to start having public ghost hunts again in the fall of 2016 as they felt it was important to honor Mr. Coherd this fall, according to Ms. Robinson. They plan to start team investigations again early next year and hope to do two a month.

“The idea with the event and keeping Delmarva Historic Haunts alive is to keep him alive, to honor him in a way that he honored everyone else,” Ms. Parnell said.

Ms. Robinson agreed. “Rick told me, ‘if it’s my time to go, my bags are packed. If I do have to go, it’ll be the best paranormal experience I’ll have,” she said. “He was a very good guy whose memory deserves to be honored.”

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